Collapsible cellular carton



K. T. BUTTE'RY COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON July 14, 1953 s Sheets-sheep 1 Filed Feb: 12, 195i fnf/265V.

July 14, 1953 K. T. BUTTERY coLLAPsIBLE CELLULAR CARTON 3 Sheefs-Sh-eet 2 ,9

Filedreb. 12. 1951 INVENToR. a//f/y fifa/wey K. T. Buff-rem l CQLLAPSIBLE cELLgLmcARToN July 14, 1953 Filed Feb. 12, 19511 `Patented July 14, 1953 '"COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON Kenneth AT. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich., `assignor .toI Sutherland Paper Company, `Kalamazoo, Mich., a. corporation `of Michigan Application February 12, 1951, Serial No. 210,605

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) .This invention `relates to :improvements in i collapsible cellular 1 cartons.

` The mainobjects of this invention are: lFirst, to providey a cellular carton of the egg carton type which is strong and rigid when set up and at the same time may. be transversely divided `into sections, bothsections having-covers which .are effectively retained in closed position.

Second, toprovide a cellular carton of this type formed of an integral `blank which may be shipped or stored inthe flatand may be quickly and easily set up `for use. I

Third, to provide `a cellular carton having these I advantages in which the eggs in the sections are very effectively cushioned and protected.

Objectsrelating todetails and economies of the invention will appearyfrom the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A Apreferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated `in the `accompanying drawings, in

I which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a carton embodying my invention in completelysetupand closed i form.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan `View with articles conventionally illustrated Vtherein ,one of the steps in` severing the carton ,intosectionsrbeing indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged yfragmentaryview in lon gitudinalsection on a linelcorresponding to line -r 3-3 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on aline corresponding `to line V4-Il Yof Fig. 5 with the transverse partitions .in y'initial `or .-unerected position.

Fig. 5is a fragmentaryllongitudinal section on a line `corresponding to liner5--5 ofFigs.` ltand 6, thetransverse `partitiorrmembers'being` shown in erected position by "full linesbandthe outer and inner partition members ibeing indicated by dotted lines :in partially.` erectedposition.

Fig. 6 islan end eleva-tionalview of the erected carton,` the expanded position of lthewparts being indicated by dottedulines.

Fig. 'I is an enlarged `transverse section show- I ing details of the features Whichpermit expand-v 1 ing of the walls to accommodate nlargeeggs.

Fig. A8 is a planviewfof theblank in the iiat. I have illustrated and :described (my-invention as embodied in anegg `carton adapted `to receive i a dozen eggsand to 'betransversely separated on` Iat-4 toY the bottom edgesof .the side walls `or the '.1 front and rear Walls.

The. bottom members are hingedlyl connected to the longitudinal partition The longitudinal partition members 5-5 are hingedly connected to thewbottom'membersf at j 6 6. The bottommembers` havetransverse slotlike openings I-1 `and 8-;8, the openings-lbeing at the ends of the cartonvand thel-openingssg in spaced relation -to the transverse centerof the carton. The slots'l have tongues` 9xon theirouter edges while the .slots :8 have corresponding tongues I0 on their inneredges. The bottom has groups of crossing slits I I intermediate the slots to provide cushioning elements.

When the blank is folded, the longitudinalzpartition members are disposed in side byside relation and adhesively secured together by strips of glue I2 as best shown in Figs. Gand 7. One-of the longitudinal partition members is providedfwith elongated slots I3, one foreach cell, f-while the other longitudinal partition member is rprovided with C-shaped slits I4 providingxtongues which are aligned with theslots I3 vbut .are of vsuch dimensions as to `permitthe tongues swinging through the `slots when .they are brought finto registering position as shown` in Fig. 5, fthe purpose of this beingto provide some'added space or clearance for larger eggs.

The top members designatedgenerally by the numerals I5 are hingedly connected` at I6 to=the upper edgesof the-longitudinal partition members `andat Ilto the glueorsealingstrips I8. These-sealing strips `arejoined in the blankfby the fracturing line I9. The top members .-are slitted and scored tolprovide end transverse partition members 20 and intermediate transverse partition members `2I. .:The.pairs of `partition members 20 and 2I. swing oppositely in erecting and they lie oppositely in the blank.v as isshown in Fig. 8. The intermediate flap-.likepartition members 22 and 23 :are cut from the top members between the pairs of partition members 20 and 2 I and they also swing oppositely in erecting. The partition members 20 and 2| are hingedly connected to the top members at .25 while.`the partition members 22 and 23 are hingedly connected to the top members at 26.

The partition members 20 and 2I are provided with holes 21 in their swinging ends adapted to receive the tongues 9 and I0 on the edges of. the slots T and 8 in the .bottom 4members with the ends of the partition members 20 and 2| extending through the slots-when the partition members are in fully erected position and engagingthe tongues as is shown in Fig. 5. With the partition members 20 and `2I in erected position. and in retaining engagement with `the tongues Si and I 0, the outward swinging movement of the partition members from erected position is prevented, that is, swinging beyond their erected position. .The

blank has a central line of perforations 2B Ywhich extend from end to end thereof and centrally between the .intermediate transverse partitionA 3 be severedl or broken along the weakened line 2B therebyv providingl in eiect two cartons, six cells each." The coverv 29 is provided with a closure flap 30 having a pair of facing closurek tongues 3l on each side of the severing line 28.

These closure tongues are beveled at 32 to'fa-1 cilitate their engagement with the hinge members 33 connecting the transverse partition members 22 and 23 to `the top. Inasmuch as a facing pair of these tongues V3| are provided at each side of the severing line 28, each section of the severed carton is complete and provided with its individual cover so that each section or part of the severed carton is complete in itv self including the cover.

TheV blank isv folded so that the sealing iiap I8, having adhesive designated at B, is adhesively secured to the side wall in an outwardly directed position as is shown in the drawing and constitutes a reinforcement therefor so the tongues of the flap cover may be easily engaged and disengaged. The sealing ilap C is adhered t the rear ap 2'along the vZone indicated at C'.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is adapted for expansion to accommodate large sized eggs, this expansion being illustrated by full and dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7. To that end I provide a cut score 3e in the intermediate partition members inparallel spaced relation to the hinging scores S connecting the longitudinal partition members to the bottom members. The adhesive l2 is above these scores 34 so that the side walls may swing outwardly under pressure ofA larger eggs and the bottom Dortions 35 of the longitudinal partition members r below the scores 4 may swing outwardly and become in eiect a part of the bottom, allowing the side walls to expand laterally as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. Y

The carton of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing may be formed of relatively light stock and at the same time is strong and rigid. The carton may be separated into two sections without materially sacrificing the protection of the contents or the substantial rigidity of the structure. The carton may be divided without opening the cover and, as

stated, without any manipulation other than the matter of severing along the weakened line 28.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible carton formed of an integral blank and comprising front and rear side walls, bottom members hingedly joined to the lower edges of the side walls, longitudinal partition members hingedly joined to the inner edges of the bottom members and adhesively secured t0- gether in side by side relation, top members hingedly joined to the upper edges of the ngitudinal partition members and to the inner sides of vthe side walls, said top members constituting cross' members connecting the upper portions of the side walls with the said longi- Vtudin'al partition'members, the bottom members beingoutwardly inclined when the carton hingedly connected thereto, the longitudinal par- .tition members having hinging scores therein disposed in spaced parallel relation to and above the said hinging connections for the bottom members to the longitudinal partition members, the lower adhesive connecting the longitudinal partition members being above the said hinging scores in'said longitudinal partition members whereby the lower portions of the longitudinal partition members may swing outwardly to pel'- mit expansion of the side walls, and a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of the real side wall and provided with a closure ap 011 its swinging edge having tongues engageable with the top members 'adjacent the front Wall.

2. A collapsiblel carton formed of an integral blank and comprising front and rear side walls, bottom members hingedly joined to the lower edges of thev side walls, longitudinal partition members hingedly joined to the inner edges of the bottom members and adhesively secured t0- gether in side by side relation, and top members hingedly joined to the upper edges of the longitudinal partition members and to the inner sides of the side walls, said top members constituting cross members connecting the .upper portions of the side wallswith the said longitudinal partition members, the bottom members being outwardly inclined when the carton is erected, said top members being slitted and scored to provide transverse partition members hingedly connected thereto, the longitudinal partition members having hinging scores therein disposed in spacedV parallel relation to and above the said hinging connections for the bottom members to the longitudinal partition members, the lower adhesive connecting the longitudinal partition members being above the said hinging scores in said longitudinal partition members whereby the lower portions of the longitudinal partition members may swing outwardly to Dermit expansion of the side walls.

3. A collapsible carton comprising front and rear side walls, bottom members hingedly joined to the lower edges of the side walls, longitudinal partition members hingedly joined to the y inner edges of the bottom members and adhesively secured together in side by side relation, and top members having openings for receiving articles therethrough to be contained in the carton, said top member being hingedly joined to the upper edges of the longitudinal partition members and to the side walls, at least one of the longitudinal partition members having a hinging score therein in spaced parallel relation to and above the hinging connection of said partition member to the bottom member hingedly connected thereto, the lower adhesive connecting the longitudinal partition members being above said hinging score in said longitudinal partition member whereby the lower portion of said longitudinal partition member may swing outwardly to permit expansion of the side wall which is hingedly connected to the bottom member to which said longitudinal partition member is hingedly connected.

KENNETH T. BUTTERY.

Referenties cited 'in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,539,875 SChWELI'ZbBI'g' June 2, 1925 2,382,202 Buttery Aug. 14, 1945 2,533,340 Allen n. DBC. 12, 1950 2,605,952

Il3utterya Aug. 5, 1952 

